Back-To-School Tech for Students of All Grades

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Four Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series Touch 11-inch notebook computers arranged in a circle resting on a surface. From left to right, a model in tablet mode, a model in tent mode, a model open over 180 degrees using the keyboard as a stand, and a model open over 90 degrees, facing left.

As summer turns to autumn, parents always work to make sure their children have everything they need for a successful school year.

This year, there are a few tech items that will make it easier and more fun in and out of the classroom, whether the student is headed to a nearby school or a distance college campus.

LOGITCH FLOW MOUSE

In this age of tablets for on-the-go computing, computer mice are all but ignored in favor of touch screens and sketch pens. But what if you want to utilize your tablet while also working on a desktop project?

The MX Master 2S and MX Anywhere 2S series of wireless computer mice utilize a feature called Logitech FLOW, which allows one mouse to control everything on up to three screens on three distinct computers. Open programs that are native to each computer and share the results among them.

Copying and pasting text and sharing images or moving files from one computer to another around was a breeze. No more uploading and downloading through a cloud server to get one project to work with another.

INSPIRON 11 3000 2-IN-1

From home to classroom to study group, students want and need to take their work with them anywhere they go. Portability is just as important as power when it comes to a computer.

The Inspiron 11 3000 combines the performance of a laptop computer with the convenience of a tablet by using a 360-degree hinge that lays out the computer in four different ways. Laptop mode lets students easily work on homework. A tent mode helps those who have to do their own cooking and need some assistance from mom’s email recipe.

A stand mode is good for watching a gaming stream or a favorite movie. The tablet mode is great for anywhere use where space might be a little cramped.

There is a HD 1366x768 touch display and Waves MaxxAudio Pro for clear audio. Because aesthetics are important when showing off the device to friend, there are four different color choices – blue, white, grey, and red.

TOM TOM SPARK 3

Hitting the classroom broadens and strengthens the mind. Hitting the gym or running trail improves the body and get those students out and improving their social skills with others. The Tom Tom Spark 3 is a fitness band that not only tracks what you are doing, it can also show where you’ve been and how to enjoy the way with great music.

The band has a built-in heart rate monitor, included a multisport mode for swimming, biking and running and more, and a GPS tracker to keep students on track for the fitness goals while they are thinking about the next class assignment and a compass to get them back safely.

The device is light, weighing less than 2 ounces, and is water resistant up to 130 feet. The display is also scratch-resistant, meaning it is tough enough for any adventure.

Music storage for up to 500 songs and a 2-week battery life mean they won’t have to slow down until they are ready.

T-MOBILE SYNCUP DRIVE

Sometimes, new tech not only benefits the students, it can also give parents some peace of mind. The T-Mobile SyncUP Drive does that by helping students keep tabs on the condition of their car while parents can easily spot where their son or daughter is located in emergency situations.

The SyncUp Drive plugs into a vehicle’s on-board diagnostic system port, and it will collect information about the car’s condition, provide maintenance reminders, and alert drivers about potential car trouble. With the app, all that information is easily accessible through a smartphone connected with T-Mobile.

The drive also uses GPS to monitor the car’s location for those moments at the football game or concert where they can specifically remember, it was around here someone, maybe over there, where they parked the car.

With T-Mobile's service, the drive can also turn the car into a Wi-Fi Hotspot. No more driving around, looking for a coffee shop, when someone needs to look up something on a tablet or laptop.

Roadside assistance is provided by the AllState Motor Club for lockouts, battery jumps, tire changes and more. If you don’t have a T-Mobile account, check with your service provider to see if they have a similar device. Verizon, AT&T, and Sirius/XM have devices that will also have some of these features.

TOYSMITH 4M STEM TOYS

Great tech isn’t limited to just those high school and college kids. Elementary school kids can also benefit from toys that are fun and can teach them something about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

From growing crystals to building a walking robot to learning about dinosaur DNA, Toysmith 4M uses play to keep students interested and educate them about geology, robots, or paleontology. The kits have won awards for the innovation and inspiration of children into STEM learning.

They are designed for ages 8 and up. Young scientists get the chance to learn more about how things work while thinking they are just playing. They will never see it coming.

D&D BEYOND

School shouldn’t be just about work and study. Interacting in a safe and friendly environment with new classmates, roommates, or friends helps build long-lasting bonds and relationships.

Since 1974, Dungeons & Dragons has been a way for people to get together and play in role-playing games, leaving behind the worries and stress of classes for a little while. D&D Beyond is the new digital toolset to open those fantasy worlds to more people while making the game easier to manage for all.

Instead of carrying around all those source and rule books (and who wants to keep carrying around more books), the digital version of the Fifth Edition D&D helps players keep track of their game characters while opening up their imaginations for their adventures.

More content is expected later in the fall that will include official campaigns and storylines. With the new computer and mouse they got, they will be set for dragons, both imaginary and real. Those research paper deadlines can really be aggressive.